Image Processing Apparatus Margin Extraction and Print Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing systems fail to accurately handle images with intentionally arranged margin portions, leading to incorrect print settings and unintended output formats.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that automatically extracts margin portions from input images and adjusts print settings to maintain the intended format, including adding trim marks and capturing dates within the margin areas, ensuring accurate printing and cutting of final products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If automatic print setting is applied to eliminate blanks, then cutting precision is improved, but images with intentional margins are incorrectly processed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidmargin preservation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects and identifies margin portions in the input image, then uses this self-identified information to configure appropriate print settings. The extraction unit enables the system to serve itself by autonomously determining margin characteristics without requiring manual intervention, while preserving intentional margins through self-awareness of their presence and properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes print setting parameters based on the extracted margin portion characteristics. By analyzing the margin portion and adjusting parameters such as print area, cutting position, and margin retention settings, the system adapts its behavior to correctly handle both margined and marginless images, resolving the contradiction between eliminating unnecessary blanks and preserving intentional margins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If manual margin setting is required, then margin accuracy is improved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemargin accuracyVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction unit automatically performs the margin detection and measurement tasks that would otherwise require manual user input. The system serves itself by identifying margin portions, calculating their dimensions, and using this information to automatically configure print settings, thereby maintaining margin accuracy while eliminating the need for manual operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary extraction and analysis of the margin portion before the actual print setting configuration. By pre-identifying and characterizing the margin portion in advance, the system prepares all necessary information for accurate print setting automatically, eliminating the need for subsequent manual margin specification while ensuring accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11562190B2Image processing apparatus, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with automatic setting of margin size

Publication Date: 2023.01.24 CANON KK

AI summary

An image processing apparatus extracts a margin portion from an input image in a case in which the input image is a margined formation target image formed so as to include a margin, and automatically executes, based on the extracted margin portion, a print setting of the input image.